bjp-plans-public-outreach-programmes-for-j-k-assembly-polls

Ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government will embark on a public outreach programme from August 5 to 14 across various Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, just ahead of the Assembly elections.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, who is the election in-charge for the Union Territory (UT), arrived in Jammu on Tuesday to mobilise party activities for the upcoming polls.

Senior BJP leaders informed reporters that Union BJP Ministers will participate in events across different Assembly segments of the Union Territory from August 5 to 14.

 “Both Jammu and Kashmir divisions will be covered… though the focus will be on the Jammu region where the party has high stakes,” they said.

The UT comprises 90 Assembly seats, with 47 in the Kashmir division and 43 in the Jammu division.

Besides the ministers, senior BJP leaders will also visit Jammu and Kashmir during the same period, according to party insiders.

Reddy, who is the BJP Election Charge for the Union Territory, will address the top 500 leaders of the party, including MPs, former ministers and legislators, office bearers, District Development Council (DDC) chairpersons and members, former BDC Chairpersons, district presidents and Incharges, and morcha presidents.

Party strategies for the polls will be discussed at the meeting.

Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP national general secretary Incharge J&K Tarun Chug, and UT chief Ravinder Raina will also address the meeting.

At a meeting in Kathua on Monday, Raina stated, “The Election Commission of India should announce Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.”

A few days ago, BJP national president JP Nadda as well as Reddy visited Jammu and addressed several party programmes, urging the party cadre to gear up for the Assembly elections.

The last Assembly elections were held in November-December 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was still a state. The upcoming elections will be the first since Jammu and Kashmir's conversion into a Union Territory.